?Colorado potato beetle Conservation status: Secure
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda Class: Insecta Order: Coleoptera Family: Chrysomelidae Genus: Leptinotarsa Species: L. decemlineata
Binomial name
Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say, 1824

The Colorado potato beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata, also known as the Colorado beetle, ten-striped spearman, the ten-lined potato beetle) is an important pest of potato crops. It is approximately 10 mm (0.4 inches) long, with a bright yellow/orange body and 5 bold brown stripes along the length of each of its elytra, and it can easily be confused with its close cousin and look-alike, the false potato beetle. The beetle was described in 1824 by Thomas Say from specimens collected in the Rocky Mountains on buffalo-bur, Solanum rostratum. The origin of the beetle is somewhat unclear, but it seems to be that Colorado and Mexico are a part of its native distribution in the south-western part of North-America ^[1]. Download high resolution version (1280x931, 174 KB) This file has been listed on Wikipedia:Images and media for deletion. ... Scientific classification or biological classification is how biologists group and categorize extinct and living species of organisms (as opposed to folk taxonomy). ... Phyla Subregnum Parazoa Porifera (sponges) Subregnum Agnotozoa Placozoa (trichoplax) Orthonectida (orthonectids) Rhombozoa (dicyemids) Subregnum Eumetazoa Radiata (unranked) (radial symmetry) Ctenophora (comb jellies) Cnidaria (coral, jellyfish, anemones) Bilateria (unranked) (bilateral symmetry) Acoelomorpha (basal) Myxozoa (slime animals) Superphylum Deuterostomia (blastopore becomes anus) Chordata (vertebrates, etc. ... Subphyla and Classes Subphylum Trilobitomorpha Trilobita - trilobites (extinct) Subphylum Chelicerata Arachnida - spiders,scorpions, etc. ... Classes & Orders See taxonomy Insects are invertebrate animals of the Class Insecta, the largest and (on land) most widely-distributed taxon within the phylum Arthropoda. ... Suborders Adephaga Archostemata Myxophaga Polyphaga See subgroups of the order Coleoptera Beetles are the most gayest faggity dumb crack head diverse group of insects. ... Subfamily Alticinae Bruchinae Cassidinae Chlamisinae Chrysomelinae Clytrinae Criocerinae Cryptocephalinae Donaciinae Eumolpinae Galerucinae Hispinae Lamprosomatinae Megalopodinae Sagrinae The beetle family Chrysomelidae, or leaf beetles is a family of over 35,000 species in more than 2500 genera. ... Species 32 species, including: Leptinotarsa decemlineata Leptinotarsa defecta Leptinotarsa haldemani Leptinotarsa juncta Leptinotarsa texana Leptinotarsa is a genus of leaf beetles. ... In biology, binomial nomenclature is the formal method of naming species. ... Thomas Say. ... A millimetre (American spelling: millimeter, symbol mm) is an SI unit of length that is equal to one thousandth of a metre. ... Mid-19th century tool for converting between different standards of the inch An inch is an Imperial and U.S. customary unit of length. ... The elytra of this cockchafer are readily distinguished from the transparent hindwings. ... Binomial name Leptinotarsa juncta Winkapedia, 2005 The False potato beetle,(Leptinotarsa juncta), can be easily confused with its close cousin the the Colorado potato beetle, (Leptinotarsa decemlineata) . While these two insects look nearly identical, only the Colorado potato beetle is a serious pest. ... Thomas Say. ... White Goat Wilderness Area, Alberta, Canada View of the Rocky Mountains as depicted on the Colorado state quarter The Rocky Mountains, often called the Rockies, are a broad mountain range in western North America. ... Official language(s) English Capital Denver Largest city Denver Area  Ranked 8th  - Total 104,185 sq mi (269,837 km²)  - Width 280 miles (451 km)  - Length 380 miles (612 km)  - % water 0. ...

Life cycle

Colorado potato beetle larvae

Colorado potato beetles (CPB) fed originally on the leaves of buffalo-bur, but when domesticated potatoes were introduced into the beetles' native range, the beetles shifted to potatoes. CPB also occasionally attack tomatoes and eggplants. CPB females are very prolific; they can lay as many as 800 eggs. The eggs are yellow to orange, and are about 1.5 mm long. They are usually deposited in batches of about 30 on the underside of host leaves. Development of all life stages depends on temperature. After 4-15 days, the eggs hatch into reddish-brown larvae with humped backs and two rows of dark brown spots on either side. They feed on the leaves. Larvae progress through four distinct growth stages (instars). First instars are about 1.5 mm long; the fourth is about 8mm long. The first through third instars each last about 2-3 days; the fourth, 4-7 days. Upon reaching full size, each fourth instar spends an additional several days as a non-feeding prepupa, which can be recognized by its inactivity and lighter coloration. The prepupae drop to the soil and burrow to a depth of several inches, then pupate. Depending on temperature, light-regime and host quality, the adults may emerge in a few weeks to continue the life cycle, or enter diapause and delay emergence until spring. They then return to their host plant to mate and feed. In some locations, 3 or more generations may occur each growing season. Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... Wikipedia does not have an article with this exact name. ... A larva (Latin; plural larvae) is a juvenile form of animal with indirect development, undergoing metamorphosis (for example, insects or amphibians). ...

As a crop pest

The Colorado beetle is a serious crop pest of potatoes. Insecticides are often used unsuccessfully against Leptinotarsa because of the beetle's resistance to toxins and ability to rapidly develop resistance to them. In the United Kingdom, where the Colorado beetle is a rare visitor on imported farm produce, it is a notifiable pest: any found must be reported to DEFRA. A insecticide is a pesticide used against insects in all development forms. ... The venom of the black widow spider is a potent latrotoxin. ... the plane is spreading pesticide. ... The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) is the United Kingdom government department responsible for environmental protection, food production and standards, agriculture, fisheries and rural communities. ...

In Europe

Native ranges of the Colorado beetle and the potato

In 1877, the Colorado beetle reached Europe and proceeded to spread over much of the continent. During World War II, the Nazi regime in Germany used them for propaganda, claiming that the beetles had been dropped by the United States Army Air Forces. The Americans were also blamed by regime propaganda when after World War II, in the Soviet occupation zone of Germany, almost half of all potato fields were infested by the beetle by 1950. Image File history File links Kartoffelkaefer_fg01e. ... Image File history File links Kartoffelkaefer_fg01e. ... World map showing Europe Political map Europe is one of the seven traditional continents of Earth; the term continent here referring to a cultural and political distinction, rather than a physiographic one, thus leading to various perspectives about Europes precise borders. ... This article is becoming very long. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) was a part of the U.S. Army during World War II. The direct precursor to the U.S. Air Force, the USAAF formally existed between 1941 and 1947. ...

Philately

The Austrian postal authority featured the Colorado beetle on a 1967 stamp ^[2].

References

1. ^ University of Florida. Featured creatures: Leptinotarsa. Retrieved on 1 May 2006.
2. ^ James L. Skaptason. Skaps' bug stamps. Retrieved on 1 May 2006.

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Leptinotarsa decemlineata